Tribunal

Office of the Tribunal

Currently, the Tribunal for the Archdiocese is charged both with prenuptial requests for permissions/dispensations and Declarations of Nullity. The Archdiocesan website, under “forms” offers a complete list of the tasks assigned to the Tribunal: 1) under “marriage preparation” for prenuptial matters and 2) under “tribunal” in regard to declarations of nullity.

Thus, the Tribunal handles 1) the permissions for mixed religion, when a Catholic marries a baptized person; 2) the dispensations for Disparity of Cult (Worship), when a Catholic marries a non-baptized person; and 3) a dispensation from canonical form, when a Catholic does not marry in accord with the provisions of canon 1108.

In addition, the Tribunal handles declarations of nullity for 1) Formal Cases; 2) Pauline Privilege; 3) Ligamen (Prior Bond); 4) Lack of Canonical Form. The Tribunal also handles requests for Privilege of the Faith in regard to certain kinds of marriages and for Radical Sanations on a case by case basis.

The website mentioned above, with the instructions for each of its forms, gives a fuller explanation of the different forms of possible nullity and for prenuptial requests for permissions/dispensation. The Tribunal endeavors to assist the clergy and the faithful of the Archdiocese for the Military Services. The best way to contact the Tribunal is by e-mail: tribunal@milarch.org.